African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 5 (1), pp. 512-524, January, 2017.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Value chain analysis of onion: the case of Ejere district, West Shoa zone, Oromia national regional state of Ethiopia

Addisu Hailu*, Lemma Zemedu and Kindie Getnet

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Haro Sebu Agricultural Research Center.

E-mail:  [email protected]

Received 11 October, 2016; Revised 07 November, 2016; Accepted 09 November, 2016 and Published 24 January, 2017

Abstract

This research attempted to analyze value chain of onion in Ejere district. Onion plays a significant role in increasing food security and income for the poor farmers of Ethiopia. Data for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were generated by household survey using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and key informant interview using checklists. The data were collected from 85 farmers, 30 traders and 35 consumers and analyzed using STATA software. Onion value chain actors identified in the study include input suppliers, producers, rural collectors, brokers, retailers, wholesalers, processors and consumers.Producers are price takers and hardly negotiate the price due to fear of post-harvest loss, in case the product is not sold. Six market channels of onionwere identified during survey year. The highest total gross margin is 32.55% in channel II for onion.The highest gross marketing margin of producers in onion markets channels is 72.84%. Policy implications drawn from the study findings include the need to improve the input supply system,improving farmers’ knowledge and experience on onion production,strengthening the linkage/interaction among onion value chain actors,expanding accessibility of market infrastructure and strengthening supportive institutions.

Keywords: Value chain analysis,Market channel,Onion,Actors, Marketing margin, Ejere.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 5 (1), pp. 502-511, January, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of increasing climate variability on households’ food security in Burkina Faso

Patrice Zidouemba 

Rural Development Institute, Politechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Email: [email protected].

Received 11 September, 2016; Revised 15 December, 2016; Accepted 20 December, 2016 and Published 17 January, 2017 

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to assess the impact of climate change on households’ food security in Burkina Faso using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model in which we incorporate a random parameter that captures the effect of climate fluctuations on crop yields and on international food prices. The CGE model has been calibrated to reproduce past trends of Burkina Faso’s economy. The results of our simulations show that the impact of increased climatic shocks, due to climate change is felt more by rural poor who highly depend on agriculture. However, given the strong relationship between agriculture and the rest of the economy, low income households in urban areas are also affected. Conversely, the impact of climatic shocks is not as significant for urban non-poor given the level and source of revenue as well as the diversification of their consumption. The results also illustrate the complexity of the mechanisms at work in the explanation of a food crisis occurrence.

Keywords: Climate change, food security, Food crisis, computable general equilibrium, Burkina Faso.

Full Length Research Paper

Remittance inflows to the development of Woreda Northeastern Ethiopia

Aster Aweke Wold¹* Abebe O. Genzebe¹ and Mesfin Gabre Medhin²

¹School of Agriculture, Madda Walabu University, Bale Robe, Ethiopia.

²College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Accepted 09 November, 2016

E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Migration is one among the many livelihood strategies that households employ to diversify their sources of livelihood. Remittances that are channeled by migrants play an important role in improving the living standard of households, and reducing their level of vulnerability. This study discusses the impact of international remittance on the livelihood of the rural poor in Tehuledere Woreda, Northeastern Ethiopia. Qualitative and quantitative data have been generated for the study. The methodology employed structured household surveys, key informant interviews and individual narratives from case studies. Results indicate that households with different demographic and socioeconomic characteristics are beneficiaries of remittances. There has been considerable change to household consumption, asset accumulation and investment among recipients. Therefore, remittances have had profound impact on reducing the vulnerability of culprits of various hazards. Neighboring families and/or friends have also benefited from these remittances during time of need. On the other hand, there is evidence that in certain cases remittance triggers conflict among members of the receiving households. To assure sustainability, some recommendations have been made. First, households of remitters should strive to engage in diversified livelihood activities to reduce their dependency on remittances. Second, the transaction cost of money transferred needs to be reduced. Thirdly, the society needs to develop the culture of savings and investment than mere consumption. Fourthly, there should be efficient and effective access of financial intermediaries that can deliver remittance services to individuals at the right time at a reasonable service fee.

Key words: Livelihoods, migration, remittances, vulnerability.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 4 (10), pp. 480-488, November, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An assessment of the demand for meat in Central Kenya

Moni AN, Nzuma JM and Munei K

Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya.

E-mail: [email protected]

Received 21 July, 2016; Revised 11 October, 2016; Accepted 17 October, 2016 and Published 17 November, 2016

Abstract

This study examines the consumption patterns of four meat types in rural and peri-urban Central Kenya. The study used cross-sectional data gathered from a household consumption survey of 447 households conducted between June and August 2012 in three towns of central Kenya namely Mwea, Njabini and Ol-kalou. The Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model was employed to estimate the demand elasticities. All estimated own-price elasticities were negative to satisfy the law of demand. The cross-price Hicksian effects for the meats indicated that beef and chicken, beef and pork, shoats and chicken, as well as chicken and pork are gross-substitutes to one another. The expenditure elasticities were all positive implying that all the four meats are normal goods in the country. The expenditure elasticities characterized three of the meats (beef, shoats and pork) as luxury commodities in the country where as only chicken turned out to be a necessity. Moreover, socio-economic factors such as age of the household head, his/her education level, gender, household size and off-farm income were found to be significant thus important factors in explaining perceived variations in the consumption patterns of meat in the country. Moreover, the estimated demand system fulfilled all the demand regularity conditions. It could therefore be recommended that any mechanism that enhances the incomes of the rural Kenyan households, and reduces meat prices would be desirable since it will boost their relative purchasing power hence increased meat consumptions. 

Keywords: Meat demand, AIDS model, elasticities, Socio-economic factors, Central Kenya. Kindly include two additional keywords.

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 463-479, September, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Socio-economic impact of the coconut lethal yellowing disease on Ivorian smallholder coconut farm families

Mahyao Germain Adolphe¹, Ismael Mourifie², Jean Louis Konan Konan³, Jonas Guei Ibo⁴, Nazarette Koulou⁵, Hortense Atta Diallo⁶, Kouassi Allou⁷, Kristine White⁸, James Scott⁹ and Yaima Arocha Rosete¹⁰

¹Programme Systèmes Agraires et Développement Durable, Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), BP 602 Gagnoa, Côte d’Ivoire. Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected];

²Department of Economics, University of Toronto (UT), Canada.

³Programme de Recherche sur le Cocotier, Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), 07 BP 13, Port Bouet, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

⁴UFR Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua (UNA), 02 BP 801, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

⁵Agence National d’Appui au Développement Rural (ANADER), BP 145, Grand-Lahou, Cote d’Ivoire.

⁶Université Nangui Abrogoua (UNA), 02 BP 801, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

⁷Programme de Recherche sur le Cocotier, Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), 07 BP 13, Port Bouet, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

⁸Sporometrics, 219 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M6K 3J1, Canada.

⁹Dalla Lana School of Public Health, 223 College Street, Toronto ON M5T 1R4, Canada.

¹⁰Sporometrics, 219 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M6K 3J1, Canada.

Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected];

Received 03 May, 2016; Accepted 11 July, 2016; and Published 02 September, 2016

Abstract

Côte d’Ivoire lethal yellowing (CILY) disease has devastated coconut plantations over the past ten years in the Grand-Lahou in the south littoral of Côte d’Ivoire. This paper used primary data collected from 338 coconut farming households of Grand-Lahou to assess the socio-economic impact of CILY for smallholder farmers. Using the propensity scores matching method, the Average Treatment effect on the Treated was calculated to assess the impact of the disease on the household. To characterize the welfare of coconut farming households, five socio-economic parameters where estimated; income, food expenses, non-food related expenses, health and school expenses. Food and non-food related expenses, including health expenses increase for CILY-affected households compared to their counterfactual. Inversely, households’ total income and spending children’s schooling expenses decreased. The survey data evidenced the inequality of gender roles in Grand-Lahou, emphasizing the limited access to resources for women farmers. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to address gender inequities and to promote awareness for smallholder farmers in preventing disease spread; and approaches for better education access. Informing farmers that CILY is associated with an increase of food- and non-food related expenses may encourage their engagement at mitigating the impact of the disease and improving disease management.

Key words: Coconut lethal yellowing, Grand-Lahou, awareness, education, smallholder farmers, gender, socio-economic impact, socio-economic parameters, household expenses.

Abbreviations used: Côte d’Ivoire lethal yellowing (CILY), Propensity Scores Matching (PSM), Double Difference (DD), Instrumental Variables (IV), Regression Discontinuity (RD), Average Treatment effect on the Treated (ATT), Average Treatment Effect (ATE), Nearest-Neighbor Matching (NN), Kernel Matching (KM), Franc CFA (FCFA).

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN: 2375-0693 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 458-462, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Participatory variety selection of improved tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) varieties in the lowlands of Bale, South-Eastern Ethiopia

Seifudin Mehadi¹, Mohammed Beriso¹ and Yonas Worku¹

¹Sinana Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 208 Robe-Bale, South-Eastern Ethiopia.

Corresponding author. E-mail:[email protected]

Accepted 07 March, 2016

Abstract

Participatory evaluation of eight improved tomato varieties was carried out in Delo Mena and Barbare districts of Bale zone, South-Eastern Ethiopia. The purpose of the study was to test the adaptability and acceptability of the selected tomato varieties by farmers. The study was undertaken in four sites, with the treatments arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Both agronomic data and farmers preferences toward the varieties were collected and analyzed using SAS statistical software and pair-wise ranking respectively. The analysis result showed that there was significant (p<0.05) difference among the varieties in all agronomic parameters except number of branches per plant. Variety Cochoro gave the highest yield (56.02t/ha), followed by Roma VF (50.97t/ha) and Bishola (45.1t/ha). Pair-wise ranking of farmers’ preference also showed that Roma VF and Cochoro varieties ranked first and second in both districts. Miya and Marglobe were not only the low yielding variety but also the least preferred varieties by farmers in the study districts. Therefore based on the findings, Cochoro and Roma VF varieties could be recommended to tomato growers in Delo-Mena and Berbere Districts for further promotion. Farmers also liked Melka Salsa for enhanced number of fruits and Chali for medium, firm and attractive fruits. However, they indicated that fruit size of Melka salsa is very small and Chali is susceptible to late blight. Therefore the two varieties could be used by tomato breeders in their breeding program to exploit their merits.

Keywords: Participatory, evaluation, farmers’ preferences, improved variety, tomato.